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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 09/16/2020 NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR September 16, 2020 5:30 – 8:00 pm Via Zoom 9/16//20 – MINUTES Page 1  1. CALL TO ORDER/ ROLL CALL - 6:05 PM  List of Board Members Present -  Bob Mann  Drew Derderian  Elizabeth Hudetz  John Skogman  Hillary Mizia  Barry Noon  Kevin Krause  Danielle Buttke – chair  Samantha Williams  List of Board Members Absent – Excused or Unexcused; if no contact with Chair has been made   List of Staff Members Present  Michelle Finchum, Staff Liaison  Alice Conovitz, Water Conservation Analyst  Megan DeMasters, Air Quality Specialist  Cassie Archuleta, Director, Sustainability Services, Air Quality  Selina Lujan de Albers, Sr. Specialist, Environmental Sustainability  List of Guests  Heidi Pruess  Lindsay Ex 2. AGENDA REVIEW  No changes 3. COMMUNITY MEMBER PARTICIPATION  Heidi Pruess moved here recently from North Carolina and is interested to learn about how the Natural Resources Advisory Board works and what are the issues in Fort Collins. NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9/16/20 – MINUTES Page 2  4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  Barry Noon moved and Bob Man seconded a motion to approve the August 19, 2020, minutes as presented - Motion passed unanimously 9-0-0 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Danielle reminded the board that her job is taking time from her NRAB Chair duties and asked if anyone would like to step into the Chair position during this busy time for her. b. Horsetooth Outlet Project (HOP) Alice Conovitz, Water Conservation Analyst, Utilities Department - - HOP is a collaborative proactive and necessary repair and maintenance project at the Soldier Canyon Dam outlet to protect infrastructure and water supply and plan for future water use.  Overview: - The Northern Water Conservancy District maintains the infrastructure and manages the water at Soldier Canyon Dam in Horsetooth Reservoir and will be the lead on this project. - HOP will begin around October 15 and will last from 30 to 45 days. During that time there will be no water flows from Horsetooth Reservoir to the City of Fort Collins, Loveland Water District, Northern Weld and East Larimer water districts. - Safety around the project and water quality is paramount, especially with forest fires burning nearby. This project is being done now before anticipated fire-related runoff events in the spring. - During the project water for 220,000 people will come from the Poudre River system plus a limited-capacity backup pump system from a different part of Horsetooth Reservoir. - City plans, policies and codes manage water demand. In order to conserve water and manage demand based on winter use and unknown runoff from the fires, Fort Collins Utilities is imposing water use restrictions, beginning October 1, and during the HOP project.  Citizens are restricted to no outdoor water use and are encouraged to conserve indoor water use. There are some exceptions listed on the HOP website: www.fcgov.com/HOP.  City departments will also have water constraints but will continue essential health and safety activities. - The HOP project is doing extensive outreach to the community including an NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9/16/20 – MINUTES Page 3  opinion survey about the project.  Board discussion - Interesting to see what is involved to provide a safe water supply. Also happy to see the City will be leading by example by being under same restrictions as citizens. - It might be helpful to educate the public about how much water it needs to stay healthy.. - Barry - Concerned if heavy agricultural water usage is being addressed by the City of Fort Collins or other cities and if it is opening a dialogue with the state to plan for future water demand along the front range.  Michelle will follow up with Alice regarding this question c. Air Quality in Fort Collins - Megan DeMasters, Air Quality Specialist  Megan gave a background on the Environmental Services Healthy Homes program - https://www.fcgov.com/airquaity  Its mission is to create a healthier community by improving indoor air quality and promoting a safe home environment through volunteer- based education and action based on seven key areas to keep it: clean; pest-free; well-ventilated, dry, well-maintained, safe and contaminant free..  Since most Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, and since the EPA has determined indoor air quality is up to 5 times worse than outdoor air quality, the home is where they have the greatest control of their environment.  Air quality risks in Fort Collins include 1 in 4 families have a family member with a respiratory ailment, and Colorado generally has high radon levels, especially to under-served and vulnerable populations.  Because of Covid-19, volunteers are not currently going into people's homes, but Healthy Homes is maintaining this program with an on-line self-assessment tool and a phone assessment tool implemented by volunteers. - Wildfire Smoke Preparedness  The Cameron Peak Fire is largest fire in Larimer County history and has impacted outdoor air quality for many weeks. Because of that, staff has been working on a plan to define what it means to be a "Smoke-ready" Community NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9/16/20 – MINUTES Page 4   Public buildings have filtration for smoke  Have public education and outreach information so community members understand the health risks of smoke exposure, including air monitors in the city that report to the air quality web page https://www.fcgov.com/airquaity  Community members have access to tools to protect themselves  Have resources for the most at-risk and under-served members of the community.  Actions for before, during, and after a smoke event  The City Manager has signed a declaration of outdoor fire restrictions within the City of Fort Collins.  Converging Crises  During the current Corona Virus and smoke events the City is: producing more translated education and outreach materials to understand actions to be taken; investigating impacts to businesses; expanded monitoring; [providing resources for home interventions, and clean air shelters - Discussion  Regarding clean air spaces, research shows gathering in large spaces during Covid is discouraged. However, the City is working to connect vulnerable people to clean air resources such as collaborating with the Rescue Mission to expand hours for their guests over 55 years of age who have respiratory issues during recent heavy smoke days.  John - Regarding air filtration systems in your home, be careful your system can handle the filter or it may damage your system. Or, you can install a separate air filtrations system in your home. There might be opportunities to collaborate with local installers on this.  The City's air quality website and social media are getting record numbers of visits to learn about air quality issues to be empowered what to do about other air quality impacts such as from oil and gas, loss of trees from Emerald Ash Borer, higher ozone levels due to heat. 6. OTHER BUSINESS / UPDATES a. Group discussion about what the board has been hearing in the world of Natural Resources during Covid  Air quality has many challenges with many fires and heard that some oil wells are NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9/16/20 – MINUTES Page 5  venting and not flaring off gasses.  Barry - Regarding Northern Water Glade Reservoir/NISP issue, he suggested it would be in the City's best interest and it would reflect the majority of Fort Collins citizens, for the City to join as co-plaintive against Northern Water in litigation.  Bob - has observed increased usage of outdoor areas and hopes it will raise the public's awareness of Park's master planning in progress.  Danielle - also observed increased visitations to the river area but is dismayed with the low flow or the river and supports Barry's above suggestion.  National parks also having increased visitations and suggested creating more education around how to safely use them.  Dismayed there are social media discussions disputing the effects of climate change.  Hillary - Natural resources are helpful to ground us at this time.  Drew - Concerned with wildfires' effect on water, air quality, and flooding.  Many previously little-used natural areas are now having high use due to shut downs because of fire. b. NRAB 2021 work plan due November 30  Because of fewer meetings in 2020, board members are invited to go to their Google tickler list to add items to be discussed in 2021.  Possible topics: metro districts; transportation design; water conservation c. Discussion of agenda items for October meeting  Discuss the NRAB work plan.  Aligning transportation and climate action goals through the BFO process with a possible presentation by Transportation  Michelle reminded the board that the public is currently invited to weigh in on the budget on line - https://www.fcgov.com/citymanager/budget.php  Review what transpired at September 28 Super Issues Meeting  Kevin moved, and Elizabeth seconded a motion that the NRAB write a letter to City Council encouraging them to join Save the Poudre as a co-plaintiff in their litigation against Northern Water because of lack of alignment of NISP with citizen priorities based on stakeholder processes and lack of inclusion of climate change in projections upon which the plan was built. Motion passed unanimously 9 - 0 - 0 Barry agreed to write the letter. NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9/16/20 – MINUTES Page 6  d. Reimagining Boards and Commissions - Engagement in October/November  There are opportunities for the board to weigh in on this e. NRAB application due October 4 f. Super Issues Meeting - September 28  Danielle encouraged all NRAB board members to participate in this meeting to put forth ideas and concerns they may have. g. Updates  Elizabeth gave a notice of a symposium regarding awareness of medical issues from fracking wells on December 5, via Zoom. She will send a link to the group.  The group discussed concerns about the Parks and Recreation master plan  Bob moved and Elizabeth seconded a motion that Bob will draft a memo to the Parks and Recreation planning group asking for feedback to the input given to them by the NRAB in August and if they have been incorporated in the next steps of the plan. Motion passes unanimously 9 - 0 - 0. 7. ADJOURN 8:47pm